Scheme’s affordable homes ditched

Oldham Planning Committee
A housing scheme in Werneth will go ahead after planners agreed to waive an affordable housing requirement.

Councillors were told that the 64-home development by Keepmoat Homes would be in danger if discounted housing had to be provided.

The scheme in Alfred Street, Castleton Street and Edward Street was granted planning permission in April, 2010, on the condition that affordable housing was included

However, money for this was to come from Oldham’s multi-million Housing Market Renewal scheme, which was halted by the Government’s spending cuts.

Alternative funding may be found, but this is not guaranteed.

Councillor John McCann said: “This is a development we do not want to lose. I do not see any financial jiggery-pokery here.

“This is a development that is needed and is of good quality.”

Councillor John Hudson added: “We are lucky to have this before us. We would be foolish if we do not accept it.”

But Councillor Rod Blythe had concerns and said: “I do think we need to watch where developers are trying to sneak out of or slide out of affordable housing.

“In the next 10 years housing sales are going to plummet and we are going to have a generation which is never going to get on the housing ladder.

“We really must push for affordable housing in this borough.”